Help Your Teen Drive Safer This Week and Every Week

Sixty-eight teens are killed every week in the U.S. in motor-vehicle related accidents.

That's a startling figure, and with it being National Teen Driver Safety week, Motherproof.com has some tips to help keep your teens safe:

Study the Basics: Teach your teen how to perform a quick maintenance check to ensure the car is working properly. Teen drivers should know where the spare tire is located, what to do in emergency situations and the importance of staying current with the oil change schedule, as outlined in the car’s manual. Are the car’s tires inflated correctly? Is there sufficient tread depth on the tires to ensure a safe stopping distance should an unexpected distraction occur? For more tire-related information, go to Cars.com.

Agree on Limits: Remember, your teen’s license is not about your convenience; it’s about his or her life.

— Set limits on your teen’s driving, particularly in high-risk situations such as prom night, social outings and especially in inclement weather. — Do not let your teen ride with a young driver that has less than a year’s driving experience. — Remember, the greater the number of teens in the car, the greater the level of distraction.

Form a Plan: Have a clear understanding of where your teen is driving at all times, who he or she is with and what route they intend to take. Confirm check-in times with your teen so he or she can provide updates to their plans.

Establish a Backup: Sometimes teens make mistakes and get themselves into situations where other teen drivers have been drinking and they feel stranded. Make sure your teens have a responsible adult they can call, with a code word, if they feel they shouldn’t be driving or are riding with a young driver who’s driving recklessly or under the influence. Safety first, questions later.